Hot Spot inventor raises 'silicone tape' concerns

An Australian TV channel on Thursday repeated claims that cricketers are using silicone tape on bats to cheat "Hot Spot" readings, saying that the inventor has raised concerns with the sports authorities.

Channel Nine unleashed a storm of controversy when it alleged on Wednesday that players in the current Ashes series were using the tape on their bats to avoid nicks being detected by the thermal imaging system.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said the claims were incorrect and it was not investigating any alleged attempts by players to "cheat" Hot Spot.

But Channel Nine renewed its allegations on its evening news bulletin on Thursday, saying Warren Brennan, inventor of Hot Spot, had raised his "serious concerns" with the ICC about flaws with the system. "He fears that (silicone) tape used on bats can fool the technology. In short, an edge simply won't show up," it told viewers.

Channel Nine said Brennan had met ICC general manager of cricket, Geoff Allardice, earlier this week to express his concerns.

"As such, extensive testing was carried out. What that testing showed was that once a second layer of tape is applied to the bat (then) contact with the ball is undetectable," the network alleged.

Channel Nine said it understood that Brennan had been advised by the ICC to "stay quiet about his concerns". The network said that as of late Thursday evening Brennan was refusing all interviews.

Channel Nine had alleged that there was particular concern regarding England batsman Kevin Pietersen's dismissal in the second innings of the third Test at Old Trafford, when a noise was heard indicating a nick but no Hot Spot was detected on the bat.

Pietersen had described the report as "horrible journalism" and "hurtful lies". "I am never afraid of getting out! If I nick it, I'll walk. To suggest I cheat by covering my bat with silicon infuriates me," he tweeted.

"How stupid would I be to try & hide a nick when it could save me on an LBW appeal, like in 1st innings where hotspot showed I nicked it," he added.

Australia captain Michael Clarke denied any knowledge of the practice.

The ICC, on Wednesday, insisted Allardice was planning on speaking to the teams solely regarding their concerns about the controversial Decision Review System. It said it was not investigating any alleged attempts by players to "cheat" Hot Spot. "These media reports are totally incorrect," said ICC chief executive David Richardson in a statement.

"Geoff Allardice is meeting both the teams and umpires to see how we can best use the DRS and the available technology in the next two Test matches. It has nothing to do with any players," the former South Africa wicketkeeper added.

An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman told AFP they had contacted Channel Nine asking for an explanation and an apology. There was no acknowledgement of that on channel's bulletin on Thursday.

Previously, Brennan had suggested in a tweet to former England captain Michael Vaughan that players were using fibreglass tape on the edge of their bats to try to "fool" Hot Spot, which uses thermal cameras to see if a batsman has hit the ball, either with bat or pad.